What’s up with Michael Houston?

RealDawg.com reported Tuesday that unning back Michael Houston, who has yet to play a down at Washington, would be transferring. Here is a link to that story.

An athletic department spokesman said Tuesday night that that story could not be confirmed.

Last week, I saw Houston working out in the weightroom with the Huskies, but Houston is still officially suspended from the team because of an October arrest in which he allegedly stole a taxi. Coach Tyrone Willingham said last Wednesday that Houston has resumed some team activities, but is still suspended until the legal process is complete.

Houston has yet to be charged and it is still unclear if he will be.

Houston transferred to Washington from Texas in the fall. He was forced to sit the season out because of NCAA transfer rules, but was practicing with the scout team before his arrest.

The Colorado native played in two games for the Longhorns in Texas’ 2005 national championship season, but left school in December. He had difficulty getting his release. He said he had to pay off parking tickets and some loans he “probably shouldn’t have taken out.”

Willingham had recruited Houston while he was coach at Notre Dame, and Houston contacted the Huskies coach when he got his release from Texas.

He was projected as a power back and to compete with senior-to-be Louis Rankin and junior J.R. Hasty. (Hasty has three years of eligibility after sitting out his freshman year and being academically ineligible in 2006.)

Willingham is bringing in five potential running backs in the fall, as well. They are: Willie Griffin, Brandon Johnson, Curtis Shaw, Nate Williams and Brandon Yakabowski.